A Beta's Determination

Let the Festivities Begin

Colleen

I was surprised at all the food preparation being done We had a massive variety of meats cooking in all places in the kitchen and outside. Edward and Charles were operating the grills, while Dante and the other guys brought in turkeys and hams from the smokers and deep fryers.

The smell alone was enough to attract a pack of wild animals from miles around. Delicious and mouthwatering.

"Colleen, what do you say you and the rest of the ladies get together and help Angelina finish decorating the tables and the walls? We have all the decor on the back patio by the pool. They just need to be put on and arranged. The men have been working tirelessly since five this morning getting the meat prepped and marinated. I left them in charge this year to get the meats cooked, and the rest of the ladies are left to do the side dishes and desserts along with the kitchen staff. Whoever is left with nothing to do can finish decorating. So that leaves you, Sophia, and Hope. Plus, Hope is almost about to pop. I don't need her anywhere near the oven. All we need is her to stand too close and her water break," Constance chuckled, turningto walk away, telling us to let her know if we needed anything.

"OH, YEAH. THE LADDER IS UP AGAINST THE HOUSE," she yelled in the distance.

I loved my mother-in-law. She was so much like Angelina in a lot of ways. Always organizing, planning, and stealing away our children when we needed a break or if they just wanted them for a while. She was by far the best ever.

"Sam, love, how is it coming out here?" Leaning in sweetly, wrapping my arms around his neck, planting a tender kiss on his cheek.

"It's getting there if dad would quit opening the smoker and let the food cook," Sam laughed at his dad as Charles glared, pointing his tongs at him.

"You two are something else, fighting like siblings at times. Now I know where Sam gets it from," looking at Charles, grinning from ear to ear.

"What are you up to, my love bug?" Sam swiftly moved to my side, giving me a quick peck on the cheek.

"I was coming to check on you guys to see how the food was coming along. The ladies inside have most of the sides finished and are working on carving up what meat is ready. The desserts should be finished soon, so not too much longer until we can all sit down and relax."

"We don't like too much on the smoker. The turkeys are finished, and the rest of the hams have already been taken in. Will you be a dear and let Constance know I want my special scotch brought down right before we get started?" Charles spoke and went back to flipping the meat and adjusting the smoker's heat to finish up the last of the cooking out here.

"Sure will. Sam, do you need anything, babe?"

"I'm good for now, thank you, baby," Sam kissed me, then went back to help get the meat that was finished off the smoker as I went and helped with the rest of the decorations.

The remainder of the food needing to be prepared didn't take long to make. The other ladies looked so exhausted by the time they sat down, they couldn't get up until it was actually time for everything to start. The kitchen staff finished making what was left, as the rest of us, we sat in admiration of the food displays in front of us.

I don't think I had seen this much food in a very long time. The many hams, turkeys, and other meat varieties sat neatly displayed on their platters carved neatly to perfection. A very bright and colorful display of the fruit and veggie trays glistened in the light from them being previously washed and cut up. There were massive trays of side dishes consisting of deviled eggs, mashed potatoes, candied yams, green beans, cranberry sauce, and many more delectable items to feast on. The many dessert dishes cascaded over from one table to the one beside it, leaving my mouth watering the entire time I stared.

I couldn't help myself but give one dessert a taste, sneaking a finger lick in one of the many banana puddings on display. I hurried to lick my finger, hoping I wouldn't get caught in the crime, just as Constance came walking in from the living room.

"Constance, Charles wanted me to ask you if you could bring his particular scotch down before we got started," Constance smiled, nodding her head in approval.

"Charles just linked me, letting me know the rest of the meat is just about finished if we want to start rounding everyone up. I'll link the nannies, and they can bring the kids down and put them in their playroom for the time being until we get settled." Constance glazed her eyes over, sending the links out.

It was a good thing the kids were already dressed and ready to attend the dinner. Everyone started making their way into the packhouse, mingling, laughing, and enjoying each other's company.

Elijah approached the kitchen from the living room with Julia following behind, holding a sleeping Olivia in her arms.

"Aww. She is out like a light," cooing, brushing my finger against her tiny, chubby cheek.

"I tried to get her to stay awake as long as I could, but here lately, she has been napping a lot more," Julia adjusted the sleeping baby in her arms.

"Oh, love. Right now is a significant time in a pup's life when it comes to growing and getting enough sleep so their little minds can take in all the magical things and milestones they learn each day. Every one of my boys was like that at that age. It is completely normal, and you should enjoy the extra naps she gets in. It leaves extra things you and the Alpha can enjoy as well," Angelina grinned, giving Julia a wink in their direction.

"Mom, we are not discussing our s****l life with you or anyone for that matter, but we will keep that in mind," Elijah rolled his eyes, giving his mother a cheek kiss as he made his way out to the guys outback.

"Let me have that sweet angel, and you go mingle. I will lay her down and get her up when we are ready," Angelina gave Julia a quick peck on the cheek, taking the little bundle and making her way to the back bedroom downstairs.

"Come on, Jules. Let's go join the rest of the ladies out back and sip on some alcohol," taking Julia arm and arm, leading her outside.

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"We all come together for another wonderful celebration of Thanksgiving, not only as friends and family also as a pack that has grown in numbers since last year. I want to take this time to recognize all the little newest additions we have come to enjoy since the very first day of their existence. Here's to Olivia and Chance," Elijah raised his glass, glancing and smiling at the little babies as they just stared at him with their little gummy smiles.

"To Olivia and Chance," everyone raised their glass, saying in unity.

Everyone was digging in and enjoying their dinner when Christian stood up at the table, clinking his fork against his wine glass," Can I have everyone's attention, please?" Christian spoke. His face was as red as the wine he was drinking, and we could all tell he was nervous about something. He turned, looking at Cat, pulled a small black velvet box out of his pocket.

You could hear Julia giggling with glee and Evie saying something in the background.

"Oh, s**t. He's going to do it," Rex piped in quickly pulling his phone out to turn the video part on, Evie began smacking him on the arm to get him to hush.

Christian turned back to Cat, now that everyone was quiet again, "Catalina Hernandez, I have loved you since the day I met you, and I don't want to wait any longer. Will you please do me the honor of being my wife?" Christian opened the box, revealing a beautiful princess cut diamond with tiny sapphire stones around it; it was her birthstone color.

Cat was crying as everyone else was too. She wiped her eyes, "Yes, Christian, I will marry you yesterday, today, and any other day." Christian took her in his arms, pulling her to him and giving her the most passionate kiss I had ever seen.

The crowded table let out howls, cheers, and congratulations and began making their way around the table to give hugs to the future bride and groom.

Dinner went smooth, as all the sounds you could hear were mouths chewing and conversations starting around the many tables of families and friends together. The flavors of the food danced across my tongue, leaving my taste buds in a frenzy for more.

"So, men and ladies, we still up for some Black Friday shopping. I am so stoked to get my shopping on," exclaiming, wide-eyed, staring at Sam.

"Lovebug, you are always stoked to get your shopping on," Sam leaned in to kiss my cheek and whispering something in my ear in the process.

"I need to talk to you in Elijah's office before we head out on the town," his eyes looked full of worry, which in return, sent me in a worried state, myself.

What did he need to talk to me about that was so important he had to tell me in Elijah's office? My gut was telling me something was up, and it never let me down. I finished eating earlier than anyone else, losing my appetite when Sam said he needed to have a conversation with displaying a worried look on his face.

Maybe it was some sort of surprise gift he was planning to get for everyone for Christmas and needed my assistance in picking it out. I let my gut instinct set to the back of my mind and finished our Thanksgiving dinner with our family.

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Sam

"PLEASE TELL ME THIS NOT TRUE, SAMUEL RAY BLACK!! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!!! TO US?!!! OUR FAMILY?!!! Colleen screamed, tears streaming down her face as she tried catching her breath with every sob she gave.

"HOW COULD YOU BE SO IRRESPONSIBLE AND IGNORANT?"

Colleen was full-on screaming now, and I stood there taking every bit of it the way Elijah told me to do as a man and a person who had to see it from her perspective. It was a good thing his office is soundproof. Colleen was spitting and crying, with snot running down her nose, and the only thing I wanted to do was grab her in my arms, hold her close and tell her everything was going to be okay.

"I am so so sorry for all of this. I never asked for any of it, and you have every right to be upset, angry, and hurt. Please know, Colleen, I love you truly with all my heart and soul and with everything in me. I will spend as much time as I have to make it up to you and get you to trust me. I love you, Colleen."

"Sam, I am furious with you right now. I have nothing to say, nor do I even want to look at your face or hear your name. Stay away from me. If you want to see Serenity, you can come to your parents and pick her up. I am going out with the rest of my family and enjoy this trip we ladies have planned with the kids, and I would appreciate it if you would not be anywhere near me or try to talk to me. Don't even think about trying to sleep in the same bed, let alone the same room as me, because it will not happen."

"Colleen, please. We need to talk about-, I tried to finish my statement. Elijah cleared his throat to get my attention, shaking his head, letting me know it was a bad idea.

"Colleen, I will make sure Sam abides by your wishes. You have every right to feel the way you do and say what you want to at him. I will not mention any of this to any of the other ranked members right now. Eventually, they will have to know, but for now, it stays between us three, the three elders, and other select members from the two different packs involved."

"Thank you, Elijah. I appreciate all your help," with that, Colleen turned to walk out the room, never turning one glance Sam's way. She stopped right before exiting, "Oh, yeah, Sam. I hope your ignorance in life was well worth it. I hope this child is worth the hurt you have caused me, you, your family, and your future. Think about that when you start to play 'daddy' with your illegitimate child."

"Elijah, what have I done?" slumping to the ground as my legs felt like jello.

"You have done what any other man was to do in your place. You let it out, took it in, and are now going to handle it as a man and father would handle it. Give Colleen time. She will heal and come around. Yes, she said some pretty hurtful things before she left, but she is tremendously hurt, and it probably feels like her heart has been ripped to pieces."

"I don't think she will ever forgive me. She crushed me when she said the 'playing daddy' part. I have always been the best I can when it comes to raising Serenity and being her father, giving her the love and attention she deserves."

"You are an amazing father, Sam. Don't let her hurtful words bring you down or break your confidence in doing what is right. Remember, she is hurting as much as you right now. Saying those things helped her release some of that pain. Now, get up, wipe your face off, pull yourself together because this night of family fun is not over. Let's Go!!" Elijah helped me up, messed my hair up a bit, smirking.

He was right. Even though I had told Colleen about everything and she hated me at this moment, deep down, I knew I did the right thing by telling her and getting that weight lifted off my shoulders. I don't know how long she would be mad at me, but I made this mess, so I needed to be the one to clean it up.

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Sam

"IS EVERYONE READY TO GO? WE'RE LEAVING IN FIVE," Julia yelled up the stairs in her Luna tone.

Elijah and I were propped in the doorway to the kitchen, waiting for everyone to make their appearance. Slowly each couple made their way down, dressed in their best comfortable shopping clothes. Christian and Cat were somehow the last ones down, both red-faced and panting.

"How is it that you two were the first ones up to get ready and the last ones down? You know what, nevermind, I don't even want to know what went on in that bedroom," Elijah rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

"You keep that up, Cat, and you will be the next one knocked up," Julia laughing, holding her stomach.

The grandparents decided they wanted to spend the rest of Thanksgiving with their grandbabies and would not take no for an answer. We were kid-free with no curfew for picking up the little ones. Serenity gave me a sweet kiss before she passed out on Gigi's couch, as the other tots soon followed suit, sleeping where they dropped in the living room.

I still felt so empty about what happened with Colleen I couldn't shake the depressing mood I was in. My heart felt shattered and crushed. I wish there was something I could do or say to make the devastating news Colleen received from me lessen the blow to her heart.

It was traumatizing for me to find out I could have another child out there I never knew about. They never knew about me either, but Colleen was hurting so much more, feeling betrayed by the man she loved fiercely.

"Sam, if it's any consolation, I am very proud of you for doing the right thing by Colleen and yourself. She may be severely hurt and angry at you, but deep down, she still loves you. Give her time. She will come around and think clearly," Julia hugged me, rubbing my back to give me reassurance.

"Thanks, Jules. Elijah pretty much said the same thing you did. Guess great minds think alike," giving Julia a kiss on her forehead and walking out to get in the Excursion.

We all made our way out to the vehicles and ended up taking two. Elijah, Julia, me, Cat, Christian, Jax, Jo, Rex, and Evie in one while Colleen, Soph, Cass, Hope, Evan, Easton, Ethan, Lucius and Maria in the other. We looked like the SWAT team pulling up to the mall and unloading.

"Baby, we have to go to Victoria's Secret first. Their sale just started. I want to get in there before all the good stuff is gone," Evie tugged on Rex's arm, trying to pull him to the entrance.

"Okay, okay. Let's make sure what we are all doing first, then it will be our first stop," Rex replied, leaning down to kiss Evie's pouty little nose.

"We will all split up to do our own personal shopping. I want to meet back up at nine, at the food court, and do our group shopping then. That leaves you three hours to get your s**t done. I think three hours is plenty long enough," Julia looked at all of us in her serious face.

"Soph, do you care if I tag along with you and Evan? I hate to intrude, but I don't really want to shop by myself," I could hear Colleen talking to Sophia.

"I don't think he will mind. Even if he does, he will get the hell over it," Sophia smiled, giving Colleen a comforting hug.

"Thanks, you guys," Colleen smiled at both Sophia and Evan.

Everyone was beginning to part their ways, which left me a party of one. I decided I would do something special for Colleen to help prove that I never meant to hurt her or break her trust in me.

I began walking through the mall, looking in the windows at the many Christmas displays and sales papers taped to them, when something, in particular, caught my eye in the window of Jared's jewelry store:

"LIMITED TIME ONLY, CUSTOMIZE YOUR OWN JEWELRY FOR 75% OFF AT THE TIME OF CREATION/PURCHASE. MAKE THAT SPECIAL ONE FEEL SPECIAL, ALL OVER AGAIN."

That was it. That's one gift I know Colleen would love, jewelry. She would eye some of the most exquisite pieces I had ever seen every time we would come here, which were not many times. Even then, I knew she would be ecstatic about it, mostly since it was custom made just for her.

Approaching the front entrance, the line was insanely long. Most of the customers were men, of course. I patiently waited as the line decreased to the point I was standing just inside the entrance, checking out all the beautiful, sparkling jewelry displays in the cases.

The counters wrapped around the store, starting from the left going around to the right. Men stood gawking down into the cases, pointing and showing others how elegant and spectacular each piece was. There were at least eight salesmen and saleswomen on the floor and two guards standing behind the counters, guarding the doorway to the back.

I looked past them to see a vault, approximately seven feet tall and stainless steel. The guards stood there, not making a single move, eyeing the crowded area as many were shopping, purchasing their items, and leaving.

My turn was up. I stepped closer to the cases, a young, beautiful woman with blonde hair straight down her back and some of the greenest eyes I had ever seen stepped to me, clearing her throat to get my attention, "Good evening sir, welcome to Jared's. My name is Kody; how can I help you?"

"Thank you, Kody. I noticed the flier in the window about the customized jewelry for 75% off; can you tell me how to get that deal?"

"Well, sir."

"Sam. Please call me Sam."

"Well, Sam. You can pick a particular design or designs you like here, or you can make one for yourself, describe it to our jeweler, Ivan, and he can customize it. He is a professional, has been working here for years, and has not had an unsatisfied customer. I am happy to show you some pieces of his if you are interested in customizing your own. May I ask, is it for a special someone?"

"My wife. I wanted to do something special for her and get her something so exquisite she has never had before."

"Lucky woman," Kody smiled, giving me a wink.

"I have to say I am the lucky one. She is my other half, my soul, and my life."

Kody clutched her hands to her heart, cooing at the sweet words spoken for Colleen.

"Well, if that is the case, she needs the best of the best. Right this way, I will be glad to help you make this a gift she will never forget."

Kody led me through the swinging door and past the guards, "Stefan, Marcus, he is getting a customized piece." Marcus nodded as Stefan stared daggers through me, killing me with his gaze.

I could not believe the unique piece of work Ivan created. I had never seen anything so spectacular. I stood there, just outside the jewelry store entrance, taking in the sparkling diamonds radiating as the light bounced off each intricate piece one at a time.

Ivan was, in fact, the best jeweler I had ever met. He took a small chunk of gold, melted it down into the mold design I described to him, then lasered the tiny piece of perfection until it resembled the exact replica of the description. Once it was all completed, he handed me the golden necklace, smiled, and nodded his head.

I looked it over and over, inspecting for any flaws, which were none. Ivan's design I described for him to create was of a wedding picture of Colleen and I kissing in our ceremony after we said our 'I do's,' with a tiny photo engraved image of Serenity in the background behind us. The piece itself was rather large on the chain, but with the size of the chain I selected, it went perfectly with it.

I put the tiny box in my pocket and wandered some more through the crowds of Black Friday shopping. At one point, I ran into Lucius, holding multiple bags from at least four different stores. Maria not too far behind him with just as many.

"You think you have enough stuff?" I couldn't help but laugh at Lucius's blank facial expression.

"That's not all. We already made one trip to the car to drop off the first load we bought. I am seriously regretting giving my credit card to her," Lucius rubbed his head in frustration, gave Maria a kiss, and watched her walk into Victoria Secret.

"YOU'RE CUT OFF, MARIA!!" Lucius yelled to her right before she went to the entrance. Maria turned, giving him a wink and blowing a kiss to him.

"That woman is going to be the death of me, I swear." Lucius stood there, shaking his head, letting out a long sigh.

"So, how you holding up, Sam? I know it can't be easy, and I can't imagine how both of you are feeling about all this. Elijah filled us in on the parts we needed to know for now but said we would have a meeting after the holidays. If there is anything Maria or I can do to help, don't hesitate to ask. We are all here for the both of you, don't forget that." Lucius pulled me in, giving me a long brotherly hug.

Maria came out of the store quicker than I thought she would, swinging her hot pink bags in the air by her sides.

"At least she didn't get as much this time," Lucius walked over to Maria, helping her with the bags.

"Did you find what you needed, babe?"

"I did; thank you for letting me splurge. You're the best," Maria grabbed Lucius's face giving him a deep kiss.

"Come on, man. Let's catch up to the rest of the gang. It's going on nine now, and you know how Jules is about punctuality," tapping Lucius on the shoulder.

We left the shopping area, making our way over to the food court. Cat and Christian were already there, ordering food from the Chinese restaurant. Not long after we arrived, more of the gang came creeping in slowly but surely.

"Did you guys find anything you like?"

"Hell yeah, we did. Cat bought this cute little outfit she is going to wear for me tonight," Christian smirked, earning a glare from Cat.

"I got Colleen something special too."

No one said anything for a moment, then Cat spoke up, "I am sure she is going to love it."

"I hope so. I had it customized at Jared's. They had a Black Friday sale any piece that you got customized from there or a design you came up with customized, it was 75% off."

Eventually, Julia, Elijah, Rex, Evie, and the rest of us all made it to the food court, ordered our food, and ate. By the time we were finished eating, we all were getting tired and were ready to go. We all had the same idea when it came to shopping for the kids. We did it with our personal shopping so it wouldn't take as long. It was bad enough the mall was packed. There wasn't an empty parking spot in the parking lot.

We crammed back into the Excursions and made our way towards the packhouse. I think Maria, Julia, and Sophia ended up with the most bags, toys, and other knick-knacks.

The drive didn't seem as long back as it did when we left. We pulled in, stopped at the garage, and began unloading all the bags and boxes, placing them in the foyer and closing and locking the door behind us, so none of the kids would wander and find them.

When all the gifts were unloaded, I wanted to talk to Colleen, but she went to bed, so I made my way to my office, grabbed some spare blankets from the closet, lay down on the couch, and let the sleepiness and relaxation take over.